Obama, Trudeau show like-minded values in White House visit

[webfact]

Obama, Trudeau show like-minded values in White House visit
By ROB GILLIES and KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — One is leaving office soon, the other just starting, but President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau basked in mutual affection Thursday over all the things they share, emphasizing common ground on trade and combatting climate change.

Trudeau's official visit to the United States was the first by a Canadian leader in nearly two decades. He and Obama announced new efforts to curb global warming and to make it easier for the two countries to trade with one another. They also appeared to enjoy each other's company, with Obama playing the role of elder statesman and Trudeau sounding a youthful "hope and change" theme like the one Obama campaigned on seven years ago.

"From my perspective, what's not to like?" Obama said.

The 44-year-old Trudeau, son of the late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, won last October's election borrowing the theme of optimism and said he's learned a lot from 54-year-old Obama.

"He's somebody with a big heart, but also a big brain," Trudeau said. "And for me to be able to count on a friend who has lived through many of the things that I'm about to encounter on the political stage, on the international stage, it's a great comfort to me."

Beginning with an ornate arrival ceremony on the South Lawn, Obama and his wife, Michelle, welcomed Trudeau, his wife, Sophie Gregoire, and their three children.

The leaders found time for some levity before heading into an Oval Office meeting, with a state dinner to come in the evening.

The president hit on a topic of national pride for Canadians: hockey. "Where's the Stanley Cup right now?" Obama joked, before answering his own question — the Chicago Blackhawks won it last season.

Trudeau tried to match Obama's trash talk, noting that three of the Blackhawks' best players are from Canada. Still, the young prime minister's remarks were largely earnest. He linked his agenda to that of the Obama administration and said the two governments "share and are working on the exact same objectives."

"There is no relationship in the entire world like the Canada-U.S. relationship," Trudeau said. "We grew up together."

Despite that close geographical and political alliance, no Canadian prime minister had made an official visit since 1997, a fact that Obama noted.

"It's about time, eh?" Obama said, playing up the Canadian colloquialism.

The leaders also sought to show progress on common areas of concern. Obama said they had instructed aides to work on efforts that would make it easier for goods and people to move back and forth between the two nation's borders. Canada is the United States' largest trading partner, with more than $2 billion worth of goods and services crossing the border every day. About 75 percent of Canada's exports go to the U.S.

And to start the day off, they announced efforts to reduce methane emissions from gas and oil production. They committed to reducing methane emissions by 40 percent to 45 percent from 2012 levels over the coming decade.

"I'm confident that by working together, we'll get there sooner than we think," Trudeau said.

Methane is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the U.S. from human activities and is much more efficient at trapping radiation than carbon dioxide.

They also announced Obama will address Canada's Parliament in June.

Trudeau's father swept into power in 1968 and, with a short interruption, served until 1984. He was often compared to President John F. Kennedy and remains one of the few Canadian politicians known in America.

Tall and fit, Justin Trudeau channels the charisma of his father. He aims to restore his father's legacy as leader of the Liberal Party, which was under siege during 10 years of Conservative rule under Stephen Harper, Trudeau's predecessor.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-11

[canuckamuck]

This little love-in should confirm all fears about Trudeau.

[zaphod reborn]

Trudeau tried to match Obama's trash talk, noting that three of the Blackhawks' best players are from Canada.

Nice try Trudeau. Blackhawk Patrick Kane, the NHL's scoring leader, is from the US. No Canadian teams will even make the playoffs this year.

[sanukjim]

Ah Yes: Two socialist in agreements on how to bring down their countries.

[Credo]

Ah Yes: Two socialist in agreements on how to bring down their countries.

No, two neighbors having a chat over dinner.

[timber]

Despite the negative comments it is good to see the two nations bonding and sharing a common path.

[blazes]

Trudeau kissing the ass of the man who has done most to undermine the Canadian energy sector. Obama alone was responsible for nixing the Keystone XL pipeline (in response to his tree-hugger backers).

Trudeau of course is just another tree-hugger. One can only hope that the Ottawa show is being run by people who know that Canada's bread and butter depends on Alberta and the energy sector.

Canada's so-called "socialism' depends entirely on the success of oil and gas companies....

[chrisdodd]

Despite the negative comments it is good to see the two nations bonding and sharing a common path.

Unfortunately these two Great leaders will not be serving their terms at the same time.......Canada and USA missed out on a multitude of positive changes......now Mr. Trudeau will have to deal with WHAT????? Whatever it turns out to be it won't be good...

[Petchou]

Trudeau tried to match Obama's trash talk, noting that three of the Blackhawks' best players are from Canada.

Nice try Trudeau. Blackhawk Patrick Kane, the NHL's scoring leader, is from the US. No Canadian teams will even make the playoffs this year.

Hhhhhhhh. Most Chicago players are Canadians. Just saying. Go check

[Petchou]

Ah Yes: Two socialist in agreements on how to bring down their countries.

I challenge you, you have no clue what socialism is. Stop repeating fox stupidities, most what is said is just ignorance in its splendor.

Edited March 11, 2016 by Petchou

[Petchou]

Trudeau kissing the ass of the man who has done most to undermine the Canadian energy sector. Obama alone was responsible for nixing the Keystone XL pipeline (in response to his tree-hugger backers).

Trudeau of course is just another tree-hugger. One can only hope that the Ottawa show is being run by people who know that Canada's bread and butter depends on Alberta and the energy sector.

Canada's so-called "socialism' depends entirely on the success of oil and gas companies....

Oh herpes fans still mad lolllll.

Canada is well off without, a bigot, liar and manipulator fascist Harper and his gang.

You don't have a clue what socialism is, Canada is not socialist and liberals are not too.

Alberta crisis is due to mismanagement of resources by the cons with their narrow provincial mind. You can learn how Norway has done well managing their oil resources. The cons have left the country with 150 billions of deficit, polarized Canadians against each other, planted hate culture, attacked women and aboriginal communities rights etc.... They can go to hell with their religious fundamentalist ideology.

[blazes]

Trudeau kissing the ass of the man who has done most to undermine the Canadian energy sector. Obama alone was responsible for nixing the Keystone XL pipeline (in response to his tree-hugger backers).

Trudeau of course is just another tree-hugger. One can only hope that the Ottawa show is being run by people who know that Canada's bread and butter depends on Alberta and the energy sector.

Canada's so-called "socialism' depends entirely on the success of oil and gas companies....

Oh herpes fans still mad lolllll.

Canada is well off without, a bigot, liar and manipulator fascist Harper and his gang.

You don't have a clue what socialism is, Canada is not socialist and liberals are not too.

Alberta crisis is due to mismanagement of resources by the cons with their narrow provincial mind. You can learn how Norway has done well managing their oil resources. The cons have left the country with 150 billions of deficit, polarized Canadians against each other, planted hate culture, attacked women and aboriginal communities rights etc.... They can go to hell with their religious fundamentalist ideology.

Alas, you did not (in your haste to blather) notice the quotation marks around the word "socialist."

Quite apart from the vicious economic damage inflicted upon Canada by Obama, Canada (not the sodding Conservatives) has inflicted damage upon itself by its mindless promotion of "multiculturalism" and stupid white guilt over First Nations' problems over more than a 100 years. Multiculturalism has led to virtual paralysis as (for example) some little tribe in Northern British Columbia can block the construction of a pipeline cos it is likely to interfere with the spirits of their ancestors....and so on and on and on. It's incredible that Canada is as wealthy as it is, given the obstacles to progress that obtain in the country.

If you can't get the oil or gas to the coasts, you're done for. No matter who is, temporarily, in power in Ottawa.

[HooHaa]

I really hope there is never a day when Trudeau needs to meet Trump on state business.

[HooHaa]

They are remarkably similar. liberal candidates elected as much as for what they are not - conservative/Republican - as much as who they are.

[HooHaa]

Duplicate deleted.

Edited March 11, 2016 by HooHaa

[canuckamuck]

They are remarkably similar. liberal candidates elected as much as for what they are not - conservative/Republican - as much as who they are.

What they are not is - qualified.

[Petchou]

Trudeau kissing the ass of the man who has done most to undermine the Canadian energy sector. Obama alone was responsible for nixing the Keystone XL pipeline (in response to his tree-hugger backers).

Trudeau of course is just another tree-hugger. One can only hope that the Ottawa show is being run by people who know that Canada's bread and butter depends on Alberta and the energy sector.

Canada's so-called "socialism' depends entirely on the success of oil and gas companies....

Oh herpes fans still mad lolllll.

Canada is well off without, a bigot, liar and manipulator fascist Harper and his gang.

You don't have a clue what socialism is, Canada is not socialist and liberals are not too.

Alberta crisis is due to mismanagement of resources by the cons with their narrow provincial mind. You can learn how Norway has done well managing their oil resources. The cons have left the country with 150 billions of deficit, polarized Canadians against each other, planted hate culture, attacked women and aboriginal communities rights etc.... They can go to hell with their religious fundamentalist ideology.

Alas, you did not (in your haste to blather) notice the quotation marks around the word "socialist."

Quite apart from the vicious economic damage inflicted upon Canada by Obama, Canada (not the sodding Conservatives) has inflicted damage upon itself by its mindless promotion of "multiculturalism" and stupid white guilt over First Nations' problems over more than a 100 years. Multiculturalism has led to virtual paralysis as (for example) some little tribe in Northern British Columbia can block the construction of a pipeline cos it is likely to interfere with the spirits of their ancestors....and so on and on and on. It's incredible that Canada is as wealthy as it is, given the obstacles to progress that obtain in the country.

If you can't get the oil or gas to the coasts, you're done for. No matter who is, temporarily, in power in Ottawa.

You get your discourse from the cons bigots garbage. What you called tribes are the owners of that land. I don't know where you originate from as immigrant or refugees because that's what you are in case you forget or you have a distorted views of history, you represent only a small portion of Canadian.culture. multiculturalism is what made Canada great, you live with it or you go live where you originally came from.

[blazes]

Trudeau kissing the ass of the man who has done most to undermine the Canadian energy sector. Obama alone was responsible for nixing the Keystone XL pipeline (in response to his tree-hugger backers).

Trudeau of course is just another tree-hugger. One can only hope that the Ottawa show is being run by people who know that Canada's bread and butter depends on Alberta and the energy sector.

Canada's so-called "socialism' depends entirely on the success of oil and gas companies....

Oh herpes fans still mad lolllll.

Canada is well off without, a bigot, liar and manipulator fascist Harper and his gang.

You don't have a clue what socialism is, Canada is not socialist and liberals are not too.

Alberta crisis is due to mismanagement of resources by the cons with their narrow provincial mind. You can learn how Norway has done well managing their oil resources. The cons have left the country with 150 billions of deficit, polarized Canadians against each other, planted hate culture, attacked women and aboriginal communities rights etc.... They can go to hell with their religious fundamentalist ideology.

Alas, you did not (in your haste to blather) notice the quotation marks around the word "socialist."

Quite apart from the vicious economic damage inflicted upon Canada by Obama, Canada (not the sodding Conservatives) has inflicted damage upon itself by its mindless promotion of "multiculturalism" and stupid white guilt over First Nations' problems over more than a 100 years. Multiculturalism has led to virtual paralysis as (for example) some little tribe in Northern British Columbia can block the construction of a pipeline cos it is likely to interfere with the spirits of their ancestors....and so on and on and on. It's incredible that Canada is as wealthy as it is, given the obstacles to progress that obtain in the country.

If you can't get the oil or gas to the coasts, you're done for. No matter who is, temporarily, in power in Ottawa.

You get your discourse from the cons bigots garbage. What you called tribes are the owners of that land. I don't know where you originate from as immigrant or refugees because that's what you are in case you forget or you have a distorted views of history, you represent only a small portion of Canadian.culture. multiculturalism is what made Canada great, you live with it or you go live where you originally came from.

PC crap, leading us all back to the savagery of tribal warfare and happy scalping of one's neighbours. The "immigrants" saved our FN brothers and sisters from that savagery and taught them how to avoid pissing into the wind.